Anki 101: Learn Thousands of Words in 10 Minutes a Day?, by Languages on Fire on YouTube. 5 min 17 s.
- Video length
- 5 min 17 s
- Time to do it
- 15 minutes to set up, then 10
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Start with the forgetting curve. New words fade fast unless you review them soon after learning, and each review pushes the point where you forget further out.
Download Anki free for Windows, Mac or Android from ankiweb.net. On iPhone and iPad the app is AnkiMobile, which is a paid app.
Create one deck per language, then open the deck options and set new cards per day to a small number like 10 or 20 so reviews stay manageable.
Add a card with the word or phrase on the front and the meaning, an example sentence and audio on the back. Context beats a bare translation.
Review every day and answer honestly with Again, Hard, Good or Easy. Anki uses that answer to decide when the card comes back.
Keep each session around 10 minutes. Short daily reviews hold vocabulary better than long catch-up sessions at the weekend.
If you use a premade deck, check it has audio, example sentences, high-frequency words and a level that matches yours before committing to it.
Add your own cards for words you meet in shows, books and conversations, so the deck matches the language you actually use.
Tips and common mistakes
Try to recall the answer before you flip the card, and only press Again when you truly could not remember it.
Pause new cards when reviews pile up, then switch them back on once the daily queue is small again.
Add a picture or an audio clip to stubborn words, since two cues make recall easier.
Expect a plain interface and a slow first week, because Anki has a learning curve before it feels quick.
Questions
Is Anki free?
Anki is free on desktop and Android. The iPhone and iPad version, AnkiMobile, is a paid app that funds development.
Should I make my own cards or use a premade deck?
Premade decks save time and work well for high-frequency word lists. Cards you build from your own reading and listening stick better because they carry personal context.
Can 10 minutes a day really work?
Yes for keeping up with reviews, as long as you keep new cards low. Ten minutes will not build a huge vocabulary fast, but it holds what you have learned.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
